Tag Archives: Purpose

Do Not Be Afraid

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Paul in his ministry did a lot of pretty scary things. He went to some pretty rough places. He faced down some pretty tough dudes.

He was willing to do all of this, because He had a passion, a calling a desire to take the good news of Jesus’ love, mercy, and salvation to as many people as He could and as far away as He could.

Yesterday, we talked about what we are here for. What our purpose is. Paul knew what his was.

But, here’s the thing. Just because you know what God’s called you to, just because you are aware of what He wants you to do, just because you may be confident in this, it doesn’t mean you won’t be scared.

In our lives, we will be scared of something. We will be worried about something. We will be afraid.

Of life. Of challenges. Of circumstances. Of, whatever.

Listen to what Jesus tells Paul today in Acts 18:9-11 , as he goes about his calling:

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Do not be afraid. No one will harm you. I have more on my side than just you.

Remember, God has more up His sleeve than just me and you. God’s plan is bigger than us. We are part of it. But, the entire fate of the free world doesn’t rest upon your shoulders.

Today, don’t be afraid. Don’t fear. No matter what you are facing. No matter what you are up against. God is with you.

He loves you. He will not forsake you.

He will not forget you.

He is with you. He is for you. He loves you.

Today, no matter what is going on, here the words of Jesus to Paul – Do not be afraid.

Today, and each day, He is with you.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

What the Purpose of Your Life Is

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God always has purpose for His people. Now, for us as individuals, that purpose may include specific things, in relation to our lives, our families, who we are and what we do.

God has specific callings and purposes for you in your life. You were made for something specific for Him. You have gifts and graces that only you have, and that only you can use.

God made you for something specific. And He wants to use you for His glory and He wants you to have abundant life.

Today, in Acts 13:47-49, we see Paul talking about God’s purpose for us. Listen to what He says:

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

God was telling His people, the Jewish people, what their purpose was. They didn’t exist for themselves, but they existed to be a light. To shine God’s light for all the world to see. They existed to point others to Him. They were here, their purpose was to be a light shining to God.

So are we. That’s what we are here for.

Now, there are specifics within your life that I don’t know what your purpose is. You may not either. You may not have figured out work. Or family. Or school. Or living situations. Or a million different things.

You may be struggling with all of these things.

But I know what the purpose of your life is. The bible tells us this morning.

To point others to God. To shine His light for others to see. To be that arrow, pointing to heaven.

That’s what we are here for. And in doing that, when we are used for His purpose, we find our purpose. We find light and hope and peace.

Today, you are made for something big. In things that you don’t know or don’t understand, trust Him. But in all things, all words, actions, everything, point to Him.

In our lives, may we be a light pointing others to God. May we show His grace to all that we see.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

I Don’t Want To!

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I really wish that life was all unicorns and rainbows. That’d be awesome. It would be great if life was only made up of things that were easy, of things that we liked doing; of things that we would chose to do.

That’s not the way that it works. Life is not always made of up things that we would choose to do. Life is not always made of up the things that we’d choose to.

It’s sometimes, more often than not, made up of hard things. Things that we think we can’t do. Things that are too great a challenge. Things that, in the end, we just don’t want to do.

Look at what happens in Acts 9:10-17:

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Look at Ananias today. He didn’t want to go talk to Paul. He didn’t want to go heal Paul. Why? He had good reason. Paul had been destroying the church. Paul had actually been coming to Damascus to destroy men like him. And now God wants him to go and heal Paul.

No way! I don’t want to!

But he did. And look what God did through Paul. Through Paul, half the New Testament was written, and those us today that aren’t Jewish can say that we are Christian because of the work that God did through Paul.

And the only way that God could have done that was by Ananias doing something that he didn’t want to do.

Today, God may call you to do something that you don’t want to do. That looks hard. That puts you in a tough place. That makes you want to stop your feet and say no! I’m not doing that.

Today, do what God calls you to do. Be obedient. He has something for you. And He has something for that one that He wants to reach through you. When we are obedient, even when we don’t want to be, God can do some great things.

Today, even if our first impulse is to scream I don’t want to! when God call us, may we do what He wants. For in being obedient to His calling, we find more life than we could ever imagine.

Something Better

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One of the great things about the New Year and the starting over we get to do each year in this time is the chance to reaccess what is most important. What matters most. What are really living for?

There is something better than the 9-5 grind that many of experience each day. There is something more than the accumulation of more stuff. There is something more than our reputation, that our status, than the hobbies we seek after.

There is something more out there. There is something deeper out there. There is something so much better than anything this earth, our careers, our hobbies, our vices can give us.

There is something better. That’s what Peter is talking about today in this text.  Listen to 2 Peter 1:3-4:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Through the power of God, we have been invited to become “partakers in the divine nature.” That sounds big, and sounds powerful.

And it is. That means, through what God has done for us, we are able to experience God. To know God. To know His power. To know His love. To know His life. To know His purpose. To be in relation with Him, to be in communion with Him.

To know Him. Today. In this day. In this moment. The creator of all that is, both seen and unseen, desires to know, spend time with you, and transform you.

You, at this exact moment, have access to God. You, right now, no matter where you are, have access to the most powerful, amazing, loving force in the universe.

And as awesome as playing Angry Birds is (and I love Angry Birds!) this is better. This is better than anything in life. Anything you could attain. Anything you could know.

This is where life is found. In Him. In His power. In His life. In His strength.

Today, and in this new year, you were created for something better. To know God, and transformed by His power. Today, may we live with the power of something better!

Some Important Things to Remember

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It’s good to be reminded of things sometimes. I always joke with folks at church, if I don’t set a reminder in my phone for things that I’m supposed to do, then things won’t get it done.

And even those of us with exceptional memories can at times forget things; forget things we are supposed to do; forget what is on our agenda; forget all kinds of stuff.

Today, this passage from Revelation is a good baseline reminder of some important things that we, and the church, need to be reminded of.  Listen to what John writes in Revelation 1:4-6:

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

First, He loves us. The text describes all that Jesus is, and it say this – “to Him who love us . . . ” Today, no matter where you are, what you have done, are doing, or will do, Jesus loves you. Today, no matter what has happened in your life, Jesus loves you.

Today, in this moment, you are loved. You are loved by an amazing, powerful, awesome God. You are loved. Don’t forget that. You are loved.

Second, not only does Jesus love us, but He also “frees from our sin by His blood.” Today, through what He did for us upon the cross, you are forgiven. You are forgiven of your sin, you are free to walk in grace, you are free to lay it all down.

Today, through what Jesus Christ did for you, you are forgiven. Don’t beat yourself up. You can let it go. Jesus has paid the price for you and you are forgiven. You can let go and let God have it!

And last, you were created for something bigger than you can ever imagine. It says “and has made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father . . . ” You were made for a grand and glorious purpose. You were created for something special and amazing. You were born for some great thing that only you can do.

You are talented. You are made in His image. You can do it. God has made you for something amazing. Live into that today!

Today, these are some important reminders. May we never, in our lives, forget what truly matters!

The Chief End of Man

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Paul today reminds us what we were made for by God. We were not created for destruction. God did not make us to condemn us. We were made for salvation, made for relationship with Him.

As the statement is said, What is the chief end of man? To know God and to enjoy Him forever. That is what you

were made for. That is what I was made for. That is what each of us is made for.

To know God. And to enjoy Him now upon the earth to to enjoy Him forever in eternity. That’s our purpose in being created.

Listen to what Paul writes today in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11:

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Now Paul reminds of two very important things this morning. First, that we receive this purpose and this benefit not through our own worth, but through all that God has done for us.

First, He created us in His image. Second, Jesus died (and rose again) for our salvation. The joy of knowing and walking with God is not because of anything we have done, it is all because of what He has done.

Jesus Christ purchased our salvation today.

 

That should encourage us. That should make us happy. That should fill us with joy and peace and life and just make our lives complete.

And that should then help us encourage each other. If God made me for that, He made you for that as well. And part of the reason why I am here today is to encourage you. If I’ve been saved and know His grace, part of my job isto encourage others. Help them to know that grace. That love. That mercy. That joy. Help them to know that God loves them.

So, today, you are commanded to be an encouragement to others. Who will you encourage? Who will you be an encouragement to? You’re created to know God and love Him.

Does that encourage you?

Will you use that joy you feel know to encourage others? That’s what we are here for. May we be faithful.

What Are We Here For?

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Why are we here? What are we here for? That’s a question that we’ve asked at some point in our lives. That’s a question we’ve all pondered at some point in our lives. That’s a question that we’ve all thought about it. It may be something that’s kept us up, robed our sleep, caused us worry.

Why are we here? What are we here for? What is our purpose? Why does God have us here.

Today, Paul answers that question for us. Now, He doesn’t give us specific answers – like you are supposed to go to McDonald’s for lunch, but he gives the big picture.

Listen to what we hear today in Acts 17: 24-27:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,

You were given life by the God that made everything. This God does not live in houses made by man. He is not served by human hands. He made all of humanity for this reason – to seek Him and to find Him.

That’s what you are here for today – to seek and find God. To know Him. To love Him. To serve Him. To delight in Him. To walk with Him.

That’s not specific, I know. But that’s the point of it all. That’s the why. That’s why you are here.

And everything must start with that. If God is the point of it all, the reason for our breath, the point for our very lives. And it all flow from there.

The specifics are figured out through the basics. The basic is seeking God. Knowing God. And if you do that, if you seek Him first above all things, He will reveal to you the specifics. He will point the way to the other things. He will point you in the right direction.

If we seek Him first, He will show us the way to go.

So, today, are we seeking Him above all else? Is our walk with Him primary above all else? Is He the main thing?

If so, everything else will fall into place. Today, may He be the point of it all. And He will direct our paths.

Good Gifts

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God wants good things for us.  Really, He does.

Now, saying that is a dangerous statement. Because our understanding of what good things are is not always the same as His understanding of what good things are.

Our understanding of good things often turns to earthly success or earthly possessions.

God giving me good things doesn’t necessary mean that Ole Miss is going to win the national title this year. Thought that would be AWESOME.  God giving me good things means that He wants to give me what is best for me.

And He wants to give you what is best for you.  This may not be what we want.  It will be what we need.

Listen to the story that Jesus tells today in Luke:

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

We, as earthly parents want what is best for our kids. We want for them what will help them, help them grow, help them be the people that they were made to be. We want them to know life and love and success and purpose and happiness.

And we as parents, we all know that we sincerely want these things for our kids. We all do.  We all know that.

Every parent wants that for their children.

In that, if we, who are sinful, imperfect people want this for our children, how much more does our loving, perfect Father want that for each of us?

Today, in your life, even when don’t believe it or can’t understand it, God wants what’s best for you.

He really does.

He wants to give you good gifts.

Today, may we see His goodness in all things, and may we know that God really does want what is best for us.

And may we learn to trust.

 

Who Are You Living For?

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Who are you living for?

What is the purpose of your life?

Who, in your life, who do you want to see happy?

Whose purpose, pleasure, and joy are you living for?

Are you living for yourself? Or are you living for God?

Today’s reflection will be shorter, because I want you to really stop what you are doing right now, unless you are driving, and really, you shouldn’t be reading it 🙂 , and listen.  Listen to what Paul says today in Romans 14:

If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Whether we live, or die, it’s to honor the Lord.

Your life is not for you.  Your life is for God.  If you are living your life seeking only your own happiness, you will be miserable.  I promise.  You were not put on the earth to seek your own will, your own happiness, your own “stuff.”  You were put here by God for His plan, His purpose, His life, His joy.

And if you live seeking your own, you will never be happy.

If you live seeking His, you will find life abundant.

Today, which life will you choose?

A New Purpose Podcast

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The sermon podcast for Sunday, December 12 is up on Asbury Church’s website. This is the third sermon in our Advent 2010 series “All Things New.” This is entitled “A New Purpose” and the text is Matthew 1: 18-25.  You can listen to it by clicking here, or you can listen to it here on this blog by clicking below. And, as always, you can subscribe to my sermon podcasts through iTunes.